Dr Paul Weeks, Head of Biology at Oxford High School and school co-ordinator of the Whipworm Project said:

“This is an incredibly exciting example of how real-world science should happen in schools, and is the first time ever that school students have been able to help curate an entire genome. Oxford High School students make up over 10% of the whole UK student involvement, which is tremendous."

"They are brimming with enthusiasm, and eager to learn cutting-edge bioinformatics skills which may ultimately contribute to the development of vaccines or improved treatments for this appalling disease."

"Genomics is now an important part of modern Biology, and so this collaboration will also support and reinforce their learning in the classroom”